Birthday dinner for five at a Mapo raw fish restaurant: Mapo Bada

We were looking for a special sashimi restaurant where the whole family could eat well together for our youngest sibling's birthday, and we heard about a place in Daeheung-dong, Mapo, that serves table-breaking portions. Here's my honest review of Jaecheoldameun Mapo Bada (제철담은 마포바다), where our five-person family of big eaters — including three grown men — stuffed ourselves with fresh seasonal seafood and live sashimi.

Where is Jaecheoldameun Mapo Bada, and what are its hours?

Address: 104 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Bonghwa Building 1F Hours: Mon, Wed–Fri 17:00 - 23:00 (last order 21:30) / Sat–Sun 12:00 - 23:00 (break 14:30 - 16:30, last order 21:30) / Closed every Tuesday Facilities: Separate men's/women's restrooms inside, group and company dinner space available Corkage: One free bottle of wine, whiskey, sake or traditional liquor (₩10,000 extra per bottle after that) Parking: No dedicated lot

It's near Daeheung Station. The interior has spacious group seating, so it feels comfortable.

Outside, there are tanks of fresh live fish for sashimi.

Where to park near Jaecheoldameun Mapo Bada

💡 One downside is there's no parking lot here, but you can use the paid lot at the 'Boseong Building' right next door (₩2,500 per 30 minutes). It's right next to the restaurant, and that price is reasonable for central Seoul.

Set menu and à la carte prices at Jaecheoldameun Mapo Bada

• Set menus — Mapo Bada Signature Set ₩151,000 / Mapo Bada Premium Set ₩129,000 / Mapo Bada Value Set (2 people) ₩103,000
• Live salt-grilled shrimp (25pc) ₩65,000
• Freshest mixed sashimi or flounder of the day — Large ₩68,000 / Medium ₩56,000 / Small ₩46,000
• Rockfish sashimi Small ₩41,000
• Seafood platter Large ₩55,000 / Medium ₩34,000 (abalone, live octopus, sea cucumber, scallop, sea squirt)
• Gizzard shad sashimi (5pc) ₩35,000 / Grilled gizzard shad (6pc) ₩30,000
• Cold pork slices ₩30,000 / Steamed egg ₩3,000 / Mixed fritters ₩15,000
• Fish bone spicy stew ₩10,000 / Rice or ramen noodles ₩1,000 each

You can order à la carte, but the set menus, which let you try seasonal grilled dishes, seafood, and premium live sashimi all at once like a course meal, are genuinely great value.

What a family of five ordered: Signature Set, large mixed sashimi, fish stew

As a party of five, we first ordered the 'Mapo Bada Signature Set,' and since we're such big eaters, we added a 'large mixed sashimi platter' and 'spicy fish stew' on top for a really generous spread.

[Mapo Bada Signature Set] 20 live salt-grilled shrimp + live shrimp & gizzard shad sashimi & large mixed sashimi platter + seafood platter (abalone, live octopus, sea cucumber, scallop, sea squirt) + 4 grilled gizzard shad + cold pork slices with wild chamnamul herb salad + abalone intestine porridge, tofu kimchi, fried shrimp heads

When the food was served, it all came out at once on the whole tabletop, like at those traditional Icheon rice restaurants — the visuals alone made us feel treated to something special, and our parents were thoroughly pleased.

The side dishes that come before the sashimi

Even the basic side dishes (banchan) seemed endless — sushi, tofu kimchi, cold boiled pork, nicely grilled gizzard shad, abalone intestine porridge. Anyone who likes drinking would love how many snacks there were.

Seafood platter and live octopus tangtangi (chopped raw octopus)

The seafood platter included in the signature set was filled with abalone, sea cucumber, sea squirt, scallop, and live octopus tangtangi (chopped raw octopus that still wriggles). The octopus was so lively it kept moving around on the plate — my dad and sibling enjoyed it a lot. All the seafood had zero fishy taste, just pure ocean freshness, which made eating it really fun.

Inside the signature sashimi platter: flounder, amberjack, sea bream, gizzard shad, live shrimp

The main sashimi lineup was flounder, amberjack, sea bream, gizzard shad, and live shrimp. The gizzard shad, which is exactly in season right now, burst with nuttiness the more you chewed it, and the live shrimp had a sweet, savory flavor that melted right in your mouth. The flounder, a nationally beloved sashimi fish, was firm and chewy, and the amberjack, which I tried for the first time, had a charming subtle sweetness. The sea bream also had a nicely oily richness, and dipped lightly in wasabi soy sauce, it was absolutely delicious.

The shrimp were also plump and delicious.

Was the extra large mixed sashimi platter worth ₩68,000?

The large mixed sashimi platter we ordered extra came with flounder, sea bream, and sea bass — clean and mild in flavor — which fully satisfied all the sashimi lovers at the table.

Finishing with the spicy fish stew

We finished with a spicy, refreshing fish stew (maeuntang), and the deep broth drawn from fish bones made for a satisfying, hearty ending.

How much should you order at Jaecheoldameun Mapo Bada?

Thanks to the generous, neatly arranged full-table spread, it was perfect for a birthday party or family outing. For a typical family of four, the signature set alone would be enough to leave you full, with a solid balance of value and quality.

If you're looking for a Daeheung-dong restaurant and bar with wide tables and a tidy seasonal course to enjoy a relaxed drink, or a Mapo dinner course spot with clean side dishes and seasonal live sashimi, give Jaecheoldameun Mapo Bada a try.